Play Listings for the Week of September 15th, 2014

TIFF is over, and the weather is getting chilly… But the theatre scene in Toronto is heating up for the coming start of the fall! Here’s a list of the shows playing in Toronto during the week of September 15th, 2014. If they’re highlighted in red, and have two asterisks before them, they come highly recommended by our Managing Editor, Wayne. You never know what you might find!

**The Crucible by Arthur Miller (Soulpepper Theatre). A community is thrown into chaos by accusations of witchcraft in 1692 Massachusetts. Previews Aug 30-Sep 4. Opens Sep 6 and runs to Sep 20, see website for schedule. $29-$74, rush $5-$23. Young Centre for the Performing Arts, 50 Tank House Lane. 416-866-8666, soulpepper.ca.

Glenn by David Young (Soulpepper Theatre). Two versions of Bach’s Goldberg Variations frame this look at iconic Canadian artist Glenn Gould. Previews Aug 26-Sep 1. Opens Sep 2 and runs to Oct 4, see website for schedule. $29-$74, rush $5-$23. Young Centre for the Performing Arts, 50 Tank House Lane. 416-866-8666, soulpepper.ca.

Hedwig And The Angry Inch by John Cameron Mitchell (Lower Ossington Theatre). An East German transgender rocker moves to America to start a band and find love. Opens Sep 11 and runs to Sep 27, Thu-Sat 8 pm. $50. 100A Ossington. 416-915-6747, lowerossingtontheatre.com.

Richard III, The Pleasures Of Violence based on text by William Shakespeare (Kadozuke Kollektif/Bad New Days). Performance and film are combined to explore the passion, violence and disaster that surrounds the three York brothers, Edward, Clarence and Richard. Previews Sep 9. Opens Sep 11 and runs to Sep 28, Thu-Sun 7:30 pm. $35. Zuke Studio, 1581 Dupont. zuke.ca.

Romeo And (Her) Juliet based on the play by William Shakespeare (Headstrong Collective/Urban Bard). This site-specific production features a female Romeo and Juliet living in contemporary Toronto. Previews Sep 3. Opens Sep 5 and runs to Sep 20, Fri-Sat and Wed 7:30 pm, mat Sep 19 at 1 pm. $18-$25, preview $10. Bloor Street United Church, 300 Bloor W. randjto.com.

A Tender Thing by Ben Power (Soulpepper Theatre). An elderly Romeo and Juliet reminisce on their lives together in this re-working of Shakespeare’s text. Previews Aug 14-18. Opens Aug 19 and runs to Oct 1, see website for schedule. $29-$74, rush $5-$23. Young Centre for the Performing Arts, 50 Tank House Lane. 416-866-8666, youngcentre.ca.

Freda And Jem’s Best Of The Week by Lois Fine (Buddies in Bad Times Theatre). This play about a lesbian couple and their kids looks at how queer culture approaches family-making and -breaking. Previews Sep 13-17. Opens Sep 18 and runs to Oct 5, Tue-Sat 8 pm, Sun 2:30 pm. Pwyc-$37. 12 Alexander. 416-975-8555, buddiesinbadtimes.com.

Intimate Experiences: Meet The Company (Buddies in Bad Times Theatre). Bruce Dow and Jeff Madden host a night of performances by recent theatre school grads in this cabaret. Sep 21 at 7:30 pm. $15-$20. 12 Alexander. 416-975-8555, buddiesinbadtimes.com.

Joel Grey: Up Close And Personal (Harold Green Jewish Theatre). The Tony and Academy Award-winning actor reminisces and performs songs from over his 50 years in show business. Sep 13-15, Sat and Mon 8 pm, Sun 7:30 pm. $76-$99. Toronto Centre for the Arts, 5040 Yonge. 416-733-0545, hgjewishtheatre.com.

Voices In The Valley by Kathleen Payne (Words in Motion). This walking outdoor play looks at three historical figures who lived in the Don Valley through three different centuries. Opens Aug 31 and runs to Sep 28, Sun 2 pm (Sep 21 and 27 at 12:30 and 2:30 pm). Pwyc. Todmorden Mills, 67 Pottery. wordsinmotion.ca.